BEIJING: China and Russia on Tuesday decried President
Donald Trump’s first National Security Strategy — which pilloried both
nations as challengers to US power — as a “Cold War mentality” with an
“imperialist character”.
The two global powerhouses hit
back hours after the Trump administration unveiled its approach to the
world with biting language framing Beijing and Moscow as global
competitors.
“We urge the United States to stop
intentionally distorting China’s strategic intentions and to abandon
outdated notions such as the Cold War mentality and zero-sum game,
otherwise it will only harm itself or others,” Chinese foreign ministry
spokeswoman Hua Chunying said. Moscow issued its own denunciation
moments later.
“The imperialist character of this
document is obvious, as is the refusal to renounce a unipolar world, an
insistent refusal,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
The
report’s tough tone contrasts sharply with Trump’s friendlier
face-to-face encounters with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian
leader Vladimir Putin.
“China and Russia challenge
American power, influence, and interests, attempting to erode American
security and prosperity,” the document says.
Accusing
China of seeking “to displace the United States” in Asia, the 68-page
strategy is a litany of US grievances, from the Chinese stealing data to
spreading “features of its authoritarian system.” “Contrary to our
hopes, China expanded its power at the expense of the sovereignty of
others,” it says.
Beijing launched a vigorous defence of
its “peaceful development”, saying any report “which distorts the facts,
or maliciously slanders will only do so in vain”.
“China will never pursue its own development at the expense of other countries’ interests,” Hua told a regular news briefing.
“At
the same time we will never give up our legitimate rights and
interests.” Trump received a lavish welcome during his first state visit
to Beijing in November and was full of praise for Xi.
But
the two countries have been locked in an increasingly acrimonious
battle over trade issues, with Washington taking unprecedented steps to
investigate and add tariffs to Chinese-made goods.
There
are also lingering US concerns over China’s military activities in the
disputed South China Sea, while Washington has angered Beijing with its
arms sales to self-ruled Taiwan.
Speaking on Monday after
the report’s release, Trump took a strikingly softer tone on Russia,
lauding the benefits of counter-terror cooperation with Moscow.
Trump
claimed that a recent CIA tip-off about a terror attack on a cathedral
in Putin’s home town of Saint Petersburg had prevented deaths “in the
thousands”.
“They were able to apprehend these terrorists
before the event with no loss of life and that’s a great thing, and the
way it’s supposed to work,” Trump said, offering the prospect of better
ties.
Trump’s presidential campaign is being
investigated for possible collusion with Russia in the run-up to his
shock 2016 election win — allegations the 45th president has dubbed
“fake news”.
